On Sunday April 13, 2003 at approximately 7:00 AM, a female jogger was assaulted, kidnapped, and then sexually assaulted near Ring’s End Road in Darien. Subsequent investigation led to the identification of two suspects, Jose Amaya DOB 05/13/1969 of East Hartford, CT, and Alejandro Mendez DOB 06/03/1985 of Norwalk, CT.

As the victim was jogging in the early morning on Palm Sunday, the two suspects stopped and physically forced her into their vehicle. The victim attempted to fight but one of the attackers smashed a bottle over her head to subdue her and proceeded to force her into the rear of their vehicle. The attackers then drove her to a secluded area in the Noroton section of town and sexually assaulted her. After holding her for a period of time they attempted to transport her to an unknown location. While en route to the second location, the victim began to fight with her attackers and was able to jump out of the vehicle and run to nearby St. Luke’s Church in Darien. At that point our agency was notified.

Shortly after the incident, it wasdetermined that the suspects were of Hispanic ethnicity and were employed as construction workers for two separate companies. Amaya worked as a construction foreman. Initial leads indicated that Mendez had fled to Los Angeles, CA shortly after the assault and that Amaya was en route to Mexico where both suspects are originally from. Mendez was located and arrested in Los Angeles, CA on June 11, 2003 but authorities were unable to prevent Amaya from returning to Mexico.

With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals, Mendez was brought back to Connecticut and convicted of Sexual Assault 1st, Degree 53a-70, and Kidnapping 1st Degree, 53a-92. He is currently serving a 15 year prison sentence.

After an exhaustive follow up investigation and in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals and the Mexican Authorities, the Darien Police Department learned of Amaya’s location in Mexico. Following a lengthy warrant approval process, Amaya was taken into custody by Mexican Authorities in December of 2008. Last week our agency learned that the extradition process was approved by the Mexican Authorities and that Amaya would be extradited to the United States. On April 14, 2009 members of the U.S. Marshal's Office and the Darien Police Detective Division took custody of Amaya in Mexico and he was then returned to Connecticut. He was charged with Three Counts of Sexual Assault 1st Degree, 53a-70, Kidnapping 1st Degree, 53a-92, and Assault 2nd Degree, 53a-60. He is being held on $750,000 bond and will be arraigned in Stamford Superior Court on April 15, 2009.